Match receptacle



NOV- 5, 1929 M. c.,Mu LER ET AL.v 1,734,224

` MATCH REGEPTACLE Filed Maron '14, 1927 Patented Nov. 5, 1929 Unirse sTaTss PATENT erster.

MAX C. MILLER, OF CUMBERLAND, .AND FREDERICK Il. JENCKES, OF NORTH KINGSTON, RHODE ISLAND MATCH RECEPTACLE Application filed March 14, 1927. Serial No. 175,212.k

The present invention relates to receptacles for matches and is herein disclosed as embodied in a portable match safe which may be caused to expose land automatically ignite one match at a time and thereafter to extin* guish and release the same.

In carrying out the invention means are provided in a match receptacle for selecting, exposing and lighting one match at a time.

The match is then released and thoroughly extinguishedbefore it is finally,y discarded from the receptacle.

The various features of the invention consist in the devices, combinations, and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and claimed and together with the advantages to be obtained thereby will be readily understood by one skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection with 5 20 the accompanying drawings, in which Fig.

1 is a view in side elevation of a match safe illustrating one form of the invention; Fig.

2 is a bottom plan view of the device looking up from below; Fig. 3 is a top plan view;

Fig. L is a left end elevation of the device;

and Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view taken .on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

The pocket match safe herein disclosed as the preferred embodiment of the invention 3o comprises an out-er casing within which is mounted a magazine for the matches narrowed at one end to permit the feeding of only one match at a time. Spring pressed wires tend to force the matches towards the narrow end of the magazine from which they may-be ejected one at a time, by means of two plungers provided for this purpose. The plungers are ordinarily held in depressed position against the pressure of suitable springs by a spring catch. WhenV it is desired to light a match, the catchis released permitting the plungers to rise and a match is forced from the magazineV into the space formerly occupied by the plungers. By pressing down one of the plungers the match is partially ejected from the container forcing open the lid of the match safe and through the frictional contact of the match head with the surface of the lid causing the match to be lighted. lVhen the match is to be eX- tinguished the second plungerfis forced downward completely ejecting the match which is smothered by the lid closing under the pressure of a torsion spring as the m'atch leaves its groove.

Referring more specifically to the drawings the device takes the form of an outer casing 1 within which is mounted the inner box or magazine 2 containing the matches 3. 'The magazine is narrowed at-2a to form atene end the narrow neck 2bthrough which the matches may be fed one at a ltime to the ejector. At each side of the magazine between the inner and outer casings are iixedly mounted the horizontal rods or guideways` 4 for the match feederwires 6. These wires are slidably mounted on the rods l and extend across the magazine passingA through appropriate slots oa cut in the magazine walls. Compression springs 5 coiled about the' rods 6 between the wire feeders and the end of the casing tend to force the wire feeders towards the narrow end of the magazine and insure the proper feeding of the matches to the ejector. At the lower left hand end Vof the casing 1 as viewed in Fig. 1 is formed the hinge support a carrying a hinge pin 8 for the lid 10 of the match safe which is held normally in` closedposition by the t-Orsion spring 9.

The means for ejecting the matches one at a time from the magazine comprise a plunger 11 for partially ejecting or exposingv the match, and theplunger 12 for thereafter entirely ejecting the match from its groove. The plunger 11 is in the form of a compara-V tively broad strip and ismounted in guideways formed by the end plate 7 adjacentthe end of the narrow portion 2b of the magazine.

Tension springs 1lb secured at their lower` ends to hooks offset from the plunger 11 and at their upper ends to eyes formed in the casing 1 tend to raise the plunger to the dotted position shown in Fig. 1. The plunger 11 is ordinarily held in depressed position by theengagement of a spring catch 13 in a corresponding notch 11" in the plunger.l `The Aplunger 12 for completely ejecting the used match from its groove is mounted to slidein a groove formed in the end plate 7 behind the plunger 11, and is provided at its upper end with a curved portion overlapping the plunger 11. With this arrangement of the parts the plunger 12 will be drawn up with the plunger 11 under the influence of the springs l1b when the catch 13 is released preparatory to the lighting of a new match.

The operation of the device is as follows When the spring catch 13 is released allowing the plungers 11 and 12 to assumethe positions indicated in dotted lines in F ig. 1, a match will be forced by the feeding mechanism into the groove formerly occupied by the plungers. The plunger11 is now depressed causing the match to be forced downward against the lid 10 which is swung open against the pressure of its spring 9 by the continued movement of the match. During this operation the match head will rub alongra specially preparedsurface 10c of the lid causing the match'to ignite. The match is now in the exposed or partially ejected position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and burning Within the lid which is held open 1y the match to forma protecting shield or` cover. A specially shaped portion 1()a of the lid insures free circulation of air about the burning-portion of the match. When it is no longer desired to make use of the present match, the plunger 12 is depressed to eject the match inside the cover.

match entirely from its groove. At the same time the lid 10 being no longer held in raised position will be closed by the action of its spring 9 imprisoning and smothering the The partially burned match will be finally discarded from the con- Y tainer when the lid is again open during the exposing and lighting ofa new match.

This device is of particular advantage in that it insures that a burnt match is thoroughly extinguished before it is thrown away and will therefore reduce the fire hazard which at present exists largely because of carelessness in throwing away burning or glowing matches.v Furthermore, the device will be particularly convenient and useful inasmuch as it is possible to expose and light a match all with one hand even though both hands are gloved, for the movements in ejecting and lighting a match do not require the delicate feeling necessary to take a match from the usual match box. A further advantage from the device rests in the fact that the burning match is held within a wind-proof sheltered lid or cover and may therefore be conveniently used even in a strong wind.V

While the construction shown takes the' form of a pocket device, it is clear that the several features of the invention herein disclosed could equally Well be applied totable struction for ejecting and igniting matches from a container.

rlhe nature and scope of the invention having been indicated and one form of the invention having been described, what is claimed is:

1. In a match receptacle the combination with a magazine for holding matches of a hinged lid for the receptacle4 adapted in open position to serve as a windshield, and means for causing a match to come into contact with the lid to open the lid and light the match within the shelter of the shield.

` 2. In a match receptacle the combination with a magazine for holding matches of a hinged lid for the receptacle adapted in open position to serve as a windshield, and means for ejecting a match so that the match strikes the lid to open the lid.

3. In a match receptacle the combination with a magazine for holding Amatches of means for ejecting a match and a lid adapted to open under the pressure exerted by contact of the match head therewith to form a windshield and to light thel match within the shelter of the open lid.V

4. In a match receptacle the combination with a magazine for holding matches of means for ejecting a match and a lid adapted to be opened under the pressure exerted by the match and shaped to permit the burning of the match within the shelter of the open lid.

5. In a match receptacle the combination with a magazine for holding matches of a yieldingly seated lid provided-with a surface to ignite the match and bulged to-permit the burning of the match by whichit is held open and means for advancing a match into, contact with the lid to open the lid and ignite the match.

6. In a match receptacle the combination `with a magazine for holding matches of a with a magazine for holding matches of a4 lid for the receptacle, a plunger for exposing and igniting a match against the lid, a second plunger for fully ejecting'the match, and means for feeding the matches singly into the path of the plungers.

8. In a match receptacle the combination with a magazine for holding matches of .al

lid for the receptacle, a plungerfor exposing and igniting a match against the lid, a second plunger for fully ejecting the match to permit the lid ,to close and extinguish the match, and means for feeding the matches singly into the path of the plungers.

9. In a match receptacle the combination with a magazine for holding matches of a plunger arranged to be manually actuated for eje'cting a match, means tending to force the plunger upwards into position to be manually actuated, and means normally holding the plunger in depressed position.

10. In a match receptacle the combination with a magazine for holding matches of a plunger for partially ejecting a match, a spring tending to move the plunger upwards, a second plunger *for fully ejecting the match adapted to move upwardly with the first plunger, and a spring catch for normally holding the plungers in depressed position.

l1. In a match receptacle the combination with a magazine for holding matches of means for exposing and automatically lighting a match therefrom, and means for retaining the burnt match within the receptacle until another match is exposed.

l2. In a match receptacle the combination with a magazine for holding matches of a lid for the receptacle, a plunger for exposin and igniting a match against the lid, a secon plunger for fully ejecting the match, and

means for closing the lid to extinguish the match within the receptacle.

13. In a match receptacle the combination with a magazine for holding matches of means for ejecting a match, a lid adapted to be opened by co-ntact with the ejected match and shaped to permit the burning of the match y, and means for fully ejecting the match to permit the closing of the lid t-o extinguish the match within the lid.

11i. In a match receptacle the combination with a magazine for holding matches of a lid for the receptacle, means for exposing and lighting a vmatch within the shelter of the lid, and means 'for closing the lid to retain the burnt match within the lid.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

MAX C. MILLER. FREDERICK L. JENCKES. 

